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Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Meta came under fire after users rediscovered AI-generated accounts on Instagram and Facebook with AI-generated photos of Black people. Launched in 2023, these accounts introduced a lineup of celebrity AI characters, featuring the likenesses of Snoop Dogg, Kendall Jenner, MrBeast, and others. They were created to boost advertisers’ engagement. But since their launch, the accounts hadn’t garnered much attention. In the summer of 2024, Meta scrapped the celebrity AI accounts, leaving the non-celebrities up and allowing Meta users to create their own AI characters. But now that AI has become a hot-button topic as we enter 2025, Meta has expressed an interest in integrating user-generated AI profiles into its social media platforms. In December, during an interview with the Financial Times, Meta executive Connor Hayes stated, “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind...
Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta —the company that owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, which collectively have a combined daily active user base of 3.3 billion—will be implementing sweeping changes to content moderation. The announcement was made via a Reel on Zuckerberg’s Instagram . Anyone on the internet knows that, over the last five years, content has often taken precedence over real connection. Considering the incoming presidential administration and the immense influence platforms like Facebook and Instagram have on what content is seen or suppressed, it’s unsurprising that Meta is overhauling its approach ahead of this political transition. This is especially relevant given the strained relationship Donald Trump has had with social media companies like Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) over the years. Content moderation has become a highly polarizing issue in the United States, especially due to the political nature of our cultural spaces and the increasing...
The Israeli government reportedly commissioned a campaign in 2023 that included social media accounts targeting Black U.S. lawmakers. The New York Times reported that, in October 2023, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs paid $2 million to Stoic, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based political marketing firm, to push pro-Israel content on social media at a time when many Americans were concerned for Palestinian civilians during the war in Gaza. The outlet details that Stoic created fake accounts in support of Israel across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram that focused on over a dozen majority Black and Democrat U.S. lawmakers, including Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. ChatGPT was mainly used to create the fake accounts’ posts, which asked for the politicians to fund Israel’s military, per the outlet. In addition to fake social media accounts, Stoic reportedly created fake websites and articles. In May 2024, NBC News reported...
In the past year, Meta has undergone significant transformations, particularly in its approach to workforce management. Meta’s decisions regarding layoffs have not only attracted attention but have had a substantial impact on the company’s financial performance. Meta incurred staggering losses totaling $16 billion, primarily attributed to its Metaverse endeavors, mainly its Reality Labs division responsible for Oculus goggles. This marked a significant increase from the previous year’s loss of $13.7 billion, with Meta reporting a loss of $4.6 billion in the final quarter of 2023. Meta’s Stock Surge And Improved Margins Despite these substantial deficits, Meta’s stock surged by 12% following recent updates, largely due to the company’s improved margins. Meta’s revenue increased by 16%, while operating income and profits surged by 62% and 69%, respectively. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has assured investors of further losses in the future due to ongoing investments in augmented reality/...
A scheme led by an ex-Facebook employee has come to light. CNBC reports that on Dec. 11, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Facebook global diversity strategist, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Federal prosecutors detailed that Furlow-Smiles stole over $4 million from the company “to fund a lavish lifestyle in California and Georgia.”
Building a business empire off of just being yourself is a major flex. And Tabitha Brown is making it look easy, honey . Last year, when AfroTech spoke exclusively with the entrepreneur and vegan food influencer, she shared that her agent told her not to record anything for social media in order to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Thankfully, Brown made her own choice to follow the digital route. For those who may believe that her stardom started on TikTok, it actually started from her Faceboo k reaction video to Whole Foods’ TTLA sandwich. The video garnered a million views in a week on the social media giant and even led to her becoming the market’s plant-based ambassador. Ever since recording the viral sensation in her car, Brown has gone on to organically dominate across all social media platforms including her nearly five million followers on TikTok. Her likeness as the “world’s favorite mom” has transformed into a rapidly growing list of ventures that AfroTech continues to...
Facebook has officially changed the game for musicians. The leading social media network has announced its first-of-its-kind music licensing feature, which allows creatives to cash in when their music is used across the platform. According to a blog post, the Music Revenue Sharing feature will equip eligible creators with a 20 percent revenue share when their licensed music is used across videos that meet the criteria on the application. While the Meta company has not yet clarified the amount that the company will receive from the licensed catalogs, they did reveal that the “expansive licensed catalog” is filled with music from various artists. This function is currently available within the U.S. market, thanks to a program developed by Meta called Rights Manager. This video, audio, and image-matching software is designed to help creators maintain their rights , while also helping them to manage their content at scale. Furthermore, the feature was created with the help of the...
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies are all the rave right now for the private sector and nonprofit organizations. And while everyone is seemingly treating DEI as the proverbial popular kid in school, many strategies that have been implemented are working to create more just and equitable cultures. Although there is evidence of intentional work being done to increase diversity at companies, the ever-evolving nature of the job market has created certain norms, pushing diversity to the forefront. For the folks at Facebook, implementing remote work increased their diversity metrics. According to The Washington Post, since Facebook implemented a more liberal remote policy, the company saw noticeable increases in employee representation. Between 2021 and 2022, the tech company grew among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial employees. Its number of white employees decreased by 1.5 percent. The increase in minority employment also applied to its leadership group. A...
If you thought something was wrong with your Instagram profile, specifically its filters — it might not be just you. For users attempting to use filters on the social media platform, they’ve been met with an “unable to use effect” message that has sent folks into a frenzy. According to a report from HITC and various users, the error is stopping people from using various effects on their stories , and in true digital age fashion, folks have resorted to another social network to express themselves. Why would they take our instagram filters? That’s childish. Lol — KYLESISTER (@AriTheDon) May 26, 2022 Is anybody else instagram filters not working? — Ni🥂🖤 (@luxurylifewitni) May 25, 2022 Soooooo who else Instagram filters not workin? It’s saying it’s unable to allow this effect on your device or sum ?😭 #instagramdown #instagram — barbietingz ♡︎. (@Ifthesh96828720) May 26, 2022 Instagram better be putting back them filters 😒 — DB! (@thatgirlDB) May 26, 2022
Rooted in the audacity of hope, dreams and big ideas are often the catalysts to action and solutions. Some of the world’s most-noted movers and shakers have created platforms, programs and companies that all started as a dream. Meta began as an idea to see communities globally connect in one place. And now the metaverse is a virtual space where people can gather in real time no matter their location. Beyond the external-facing platforms, Meta has an internal company culture that supports innovative ideas, thought-provoking solutions and the drive to turn dreams into reality. Recently, AfroTech had the opportunity to learn how Brandon C. Dudley and Jahmeilah Roberson, two Meta employees on the virtual reality teams, are working to build a diverse and inclusive metaverse through the power of augmented and virtual reality. Creativity Is at the Core As a Product Manager, Brandon Dudley had a personalized entry into tech because of his hometown roots in Detroit. Beginning his career...
Trick Daddy has something cooking! The Miami, FL rapper has launched a new series titled “B!tch, I Got My Pots,” Global Grind reports. The weekly cooking show launched its pilot on Feb. 12, 2022, and has since featured notable guests such as American singer CeeLo Green, former NFL wide receiver Brandon Tyrone Marshall, rapper Kent Jones, Rick Ross, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trick Daddy Dollars (@trickdaddydollars) Not only does the Facebook Live show give insight into Trick Daddy’s southern culinary journey but it also touches on topics including music, entertainment, pop culture, and more. In an intimate conversation between Trick Daddy and Marshall, he was reminded of his long-lasting impact on street rap in the south. “When I think about Trick Daddy, I think about Jay-Z, I think about Tupac, I think about Biggie, what you did for the south, and also what you did for the culture,” Marshall said.
TikTok continues to take it up a notch! The social media giant allowed users to capture 60-second video clips as of July 2021. Now, in 2022, it has announced users can expect to capture videos totaling 10 minutes, Variety reports. On average, TikTok users reportedly spend 52 minutes per day on the application, and 90 percent of TikTokers return to the application daily. Arguably one of the most addictive applications, the new feature will add to its list of reasons to keep users reeled in for more. “We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,” a TikTok rep said in a statement, according to Variety. “Last year, we introduced longer videos, giving our community more time to create and be entertained on TikTok. Today, we’re excited to start rolling out the ability to upload videos that are up to 10 minutes, which we hope would unleash even more creative possibilities for our creators around the world.”
Pharrell Williams wants to see more wins for Black-owned businesses. Pharrell Williams presented the keynote speech at the Urban League of Hampton Roads’ (ULHR) annual Martin Luther King, Jr. awards program on Monday (Jan. 17). Here, Williams issued a call-to-action for businesses to pledge a higher commitment to Black entrepreneurs while also noting many businesses have already started their efforts. “There’s much more work to be done to achieve anything that resembles equality, business — thank God businesses are finally catching on,” Pharrell Williams said. “Corporations know that inclusive businesses are good businesses, right? Collectively big businesses are pouring billions of dollars into programs directed toward people of color — not all businesses, but the smart ones, the ones that will be here in 50 years.” Pharrell Williams goes on to highlight a few small wins that have arisen for the Black community in recent years. Historically Black Colleges & Universities are...